Eyelids heavier and tighter and eyes look smaller - What is causing the change in how my eyes look?

Question

A couple days after turning 27, my eyes suddenly changed. My eyelids feel slightly heavier and tighter, and my eyes look smaller. Is it loss of orbital fat, eyebrow drooping, or excess eyelid skin? And what can I do to restore my eyes to a more youthful look? Thank you.

George Yang, MD · Answer

Hi, Your eyelashes appear longer and fuller on after photo on the right. If this is due to eyelash enhancers/conditioners such as Latisse, Grande Lash, Rapidlash, Vegamour or other non-prescription lash/brow enhancers, it can be a side effect of these treatments. Longer lashes but less fat around the eyes. There is a YouTube video of a woman who stopped using the eyelash enhancer and her fat recovered. The lashes went back to its original length and density. One of the described side effects is darkening of the skin around the eyes. In the past, I thought the treatment was "staining" the eyelid skin, but if you look carefully at the fat around the eye and under the brow, you can see that there is a change in the fat configuration, and along with it some darkening of the skin. When the fat recovers, then the skin color lightens since the recovery of the fat causes the skin to become more plump. Hope you found this helpful. Good luck. Best, Dr. Yang

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

As we age, our eyelids naturally sag and droop. A combination approach would be best to see visible improvement. In terms of non-surgical treatment options, I would recommend a Chemical Brow Lift (using Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, or Jeuveau) and filler injections to rejuvenate the temples, eyebrow, eyelid, eye troughs, upper eye hollows, and forehead. I typically combine this with Ultherapy and thread lifting to lift the brow; RF and skin tightening laser treatments to stimulate collagen production and rejuvenate the skin; and laser or superficial RF devices for improvements in texture, color, and any crepey skin around the eyes as needed. In some cases, surgery is the best solution to achieve the desired results. See an expert for a formal consultation. Best, Dr. Emer.​

Eyelids heavier and tighter and eyes look smaller - What is causing the change in how my eyes look?

Answers (2)

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